After Tim Lincecum tonight, Matt Cain goes tomorrow and Madison Bumgarner pitches in Detroit on Friday night. The Giants have an opening in the rotation for Saturday, and manager Bruce Bochy is leaning toward having Barry Zito or Ryan Vogelsong pitch on three days’ rest. Bochy sees that as a better alternative to a spot start from a minor-leaguer, which is the second choice, or a Johnny Wholestaff game from the bullpen, which is not in the cards.

Neither Zito nor Vogelsong has started on three days’ rest in the regular season, though Zito did it in the 2003 Division Series against Boston. He took a shutout into the sixth inning, when he allowed four runs on homers by Jason Varitek and Manny Ramirez.

I’d surmise Zito is a better option because he throws so much between starts anyway. Bochy has talked to both pitchers about the possibility of going on short rest. Both said they’d do it. A decision will be made by tomorrow.

A spot starter from the minors is problematic because it would force the Giants to demote another player, which is not ideal when the person coming up is going to pitch just once. It gets more complicated if the minor-leaguer is not on the 40-man roster.

As for a bullpen game, “That would be tough, to be honest. You’d hate to tear up your bullpen and tax them all. It’s not completely ruled out. With Mota stretched out, it’s a possibility.”

Bochy also said the entire bullpen is available tonight, good news for the team after a doubleheader. Bochy did not have to use any reliever twice yesterday.